Emily Hand

Freed November 25, 2023

Emily Hand, a young girl caught in the harrowing circumstances of the Hamas attack on Kibbutz Be'eri, endured a 50-day ordeal that left indelible marks on her and her family. During a sleepover at her friend Hila Rotem-Shoshani's house, Emily experienced the terror of the attack, leading to her and Hila's abduction while still in her pajamas. The traumatic events of that night were compounded by the initial misinformation received by her father, who was led to believe that Emily had perished in the attack.

Throughout her captivity, Emily, alongside Hila and Hila’s mother Raaya, lived under strict conditions where silence was imposed to such an extent that upon her release, Emily's whisper was barely audible, a stark indication of the psychological impact of her experience. Her father recounted the profound alteration in her behavior and appearance, noting the "glassy-eyed terror" and significant physical changes she underwent.

The emotional reunion between Emily and her father was a poignant moment of relief and joy amidst the aftermath of trauma. Emily's return brought to light the severe conditions of her captivity, including the lack of physical harm but the imposition of silence and limited activities such as drawing and playing cards. Her perception of the passage of time — believing she had been gone for a year — underscores the profound disorientation and distress experienced during her abduction.

The joy of Emily's return was tempered by the grief of loss, as she was informed of the Oct 7th murder of her "second mom," Narkis Hand, following her biological mother's death when she was just two. This succession of losses has had a profound effect on Emily, manifesting in intense episodes of grief and a struggle to find comfort in the aftermath of her ordeal.